Calutron assembling and disassembling means



Jan. 27, 1959 R. E. ANDREWS ETAL CALUTRON ASSEMBLING AND DISASSEMBLING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 28, 1946 mvfiw'roz ROLAND E. ANDREW JENS THORNTON ATTORNEY.

CALUTRON ASSEMBLING AND DISASSEMBLING MEANS Filed March 28. 1946 Jan. 27, 19 59 R. E. ANDREWS ETAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 5 ROLAND E. ANDREWS JEM? THOQNTON g 4 M a ATTORNEY.

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Jan. 27, 1959 R. E. ANDREWS 'ETAL 2,871,362

CALUTRON ASSEMBLING AND DISASSEMBLING MEANS Filed March 28, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WNW? I INVENTORS WNDEANMEWS JENS THORNTON ATTORNEY.

CALUTRON ASSEMBLING AND DISASSEMBLING- MEANS Roland E. Andrews, Watertown, and Jens Thornton, Squantum, Mass, assignors to the United States of America as represented by the United States Atomic I Energy Commission Application March 28, 1946, Serial No. 657,635

6 Claims. (Cl. 250-419) The present invention relates to the art of treating a polyisotopic substance to produce a plurality of segregable masses wherein the distribution of the constituent isotopes has been altered so that one of the masses produced is enriched with respect to at least one isotope. The purpose of such treatment is to obtain a product characterized by an enhancement of the percentage of a selected isotope. More specifically, the invention relates to a device known in the art at a calutron, a term whose definition is any apparatus or machine Where isotope separation or enrichment is achieved on a large scale yielding commercially useful quantities of one or more isotopes, by appropriate separative action on gaseous ions with electrostatic or electromagnetic means or combinations of them.

The foregoing definition has been taken from U. S. Patent No. 2,709,222, issued May 24, 1955 to Ernest 0. Lawrence. In that patent, the theory of isotopic separation and the principles of operation of a calutron are fully set forth, and will not here be repeated.

It may be stated generally, however, that the calutron to which this invention relates comprises essentially an evacuated tank disposed in a strong, substantially uniform magnetic field, and a source and a receiver located within the tank.

The source includes an ionizing arc chamber having an electron emitting cathode associated therewith. The are chamber has an exit slit opening out into the tank, and spaced from the slit are two mutually spaced accelerating electrodes carried at a relatively high negative potential with respect to the arc chamber. As a result of this potential difference, positive ions formed in the arc chamber are drawn out through the slit, and are projected in a slightly divergent beam into the tank.

A continuous supply of material, the isotopes of which arev to be separated, is provided in the arc chamber. This may conveniently be accomplished by providing a charge reservoir in communication with the arc chamber,' and the material or a suitable compound thereof may be provided in the charge reservoir. The charge material may then be heated, and its vapor caused to How at a controlled rate into the arc chamber, where ions of the several isotopes are formed and projected into the beam previously described.

The beam of positive ions of the polyisotopic substance is projected through the magnetic field in a direction normal to the field, and the beam is caused thereby to follow an arcuate path wherein the ions of the heavier isotope tend to concentrate in the region adjacent the outer periphery. From geometric considerations there results a substantial focusing of'ions of the same isotope after approximately 180 of travel, and selective collection of isotopes may be made at this location.

' Reference Was previously made to the fact that the interior of the tank is evacuated. It has been found that best results are achieved when the tank pressure is on States Patent '0 2 the order of to 10- mm. Hg. Due to the fact that the tank is evacuated, as described, it is necessary that the tank be of very massive construction to withstand the atmospheric pressure to which it is subjected. The tank comprises a substantially rectangular vessel which in a practical embodiment has the following approximate dimensions: height twelve feet, depth seven and one-half feet, and width two feet. The tank is open along one of its narrow edges and is closed by a removable face plate which is approximately two by twelve feet in size and weighs approximately 3500 pounds. The ion separating mechanism mounted on the face plate extends within the tank to a distance of approximately seven and one-quarter feet when the face plate is in position. This ion separating mechanism is relatively delicate, and great care must be exercised to prevent damage thereto during removal from the tank. Furtherbolts or clamping devices.

i an object of the present invention to provide face plate supporting means effective to hold the face plate in registry with the opening in the calutron tank during engagement and disengagement of the face plate securing I means.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a calutron having a face plate removably secured to the calutron tank and having means associated with the. tank and face plate for preventing injury to the ion separating mechanism carried by the face plate, during insertion in and withdrawal from the tank. I

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a calutron having a face plate adapted to close an open side thereof, in which the face plate is mounted on a carriage device movable on the tank which supports the face plate for rectilinear motion toward and away from the open side of the calutron tank.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of motor means for moving the carriage which supports the face plate.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the calutron embodying the present invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2' is a fragmentary plan view of the calutron;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the calutron including the adjacent electromagnets and indicating the relationship of the next adjacent calutron tank in the series;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation with parts broken away of a modified embodiment of my invention; and

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the calutron tank illustrated in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the calutron referred to is preferably arranged in a so-called racetrack, in which a plurality of tanks 10 are alternated between a series of electromagnets 11, the series of tanks and magnets preferably being provided in the form of a closed geometric figure so that there is a continuous path for mag indicates the relationship of the next adjacent magnetsnetic flux through the series of tanks and magnets. A portion of the racetrack is indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, which show a complete tank, the adjacent magnets, and

Patented Jan. 27, 19,59.

3 in the series. This type of structure is fully disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,721,272 issued October 18, 1955 to Ernest 0. Lawrence.

Referring now specifically to Figs. 1 to 4, the. tank 10, supported on a plurality-of platforms 18, is substantially rectangular in shape, and has an open side at the left as shown in Fig. l. The open side of the tank is adapted to be closed by the removable face plate 12, which is shown in closed position in full lines and in open position in dot-dash lines in this figure. Suitable means are provided for clamping the face plate to the tank, and these means may conveniently take the form of a plurality of bolts passing through openings in the edges of the face plate and threaded into corresponding recesses provided around the periphery of the openings in the tank.

Projecting inwardly from the face plate is an ion separating mechanism which comprises essentially a transmitter unit 13, a receiver unit 14, and a liner structure which interconnects the transmitter and receiver. In theembodiment illustrated, the transmitter 13 is a double transmitter having a pair of ion generating devices 16 which are associated with suitable accelerating mechanism, not shown in detail. For a detailed description of this type of ion separating mechanism, reference is made to U. S. Patent No. 2,714,664, issued August 2, 1955 to Ernest 0. Lawrence.

The receiver 14 is likewise a double receiver having a pair of pocket members 17, each of which is adapted to receive a selected portion of the beam transmitted from the corresponding transmitter element, all as described in the last mentioned patent.

The liner 15, which extends between the transmitter 13 and the receiver 14, is for the primary purpose of maintaining the beams between the transmitters and receivers in a substantially field-free space. As will be apparent from the drawing, the ion separating mechanism extends to a substantial depth within the tank when the face plate is in operative relationship thereto. The ion separating mechanism is relatively delicate, and during insertion in and removal from the tank, care must be exercised to avoid injury thereto. Since the face plate is a massive iron element weighing approximately 3500 pounds, it is essential that apparatus be provided to prevent injury to the ion separating mechanism which might otherwise result and to support the face plate during engagement and disengagement of the means securing the face plate to the calutron tank.

In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus which supports the face plate and prevents injury to the ion separating mechanism takes the form of brackets 20, rigidly secured to the outer surface of the face plate 12 and supporting at their upper end a heavy, rearwardly extending guide and supporting bar 21. The bar 21 is provided at its forward end with an eye member 22, and adjacent its midportion with a second eye member 23, for cooperation with hooks carried by cables 24 of conventional overhead hoisting apparatus.

Mounted on top of the tank 10 is a guide tube 25 of a size adapted to receive the bar 21. As best seen in Fig. 4, the tube 25 is formed with a slot 26 which provides clearance for the eye member 23 as illustrated.

The tube 25 is mounted between trunnion bearings 27 and is permitted only limited motion about the axis thus defined by virtue of retaining structure including a rearwardly extending apertured ear 23 through which extends a bolt 29 secured to the upper surface of the tank 10. A compression spring 39 bears against the upper surface of the ear 28 and is retained on the bolt 29 by a nut 31. The construction just outlined permits a slight rocking movement of the tube 25, and hence of the face plate 12 when its supporting rod 21 is received within the tube 25, about the axis of the trunnion bearings 27. This permits the face plate 12 to be accurately positioned with respect to the opening formed in the end wall of the ltank, while still serving to prevent the ion separating mechanism from striking the side walls of the tank.

The guiding and supporting structure including the tube 25 and the rod 21 is employed during removal and replacement of the face plate 12, as will now be described. When the face plate 12 is in closing relation to the tank, the securing bolts may be removed or entirely freed from the tank, after which the face plate will be retained in position solely by virtue of its supporting bar 21. At this time, cables 24 may be attached to the eye members 22 and 23, and by operation of the overhead hoist in an obvious manner the face plate may be moved outwardly 1 from the tank. During this outward movement, theface plate is accurately guided with respect to the tank by virtue of the cooperation between the supporting bar 21 and the tubular guide support 25. This prevents undesired lateral movement of the ion separating mechanism including the transmitter unit, the liner, and the receiver un1t.

When it is desired to replace the face plate on the tank, it is brought into juxtaposition by means of the overhead hoisting mechanism, and the guide bar 2'1is started into the tubular guiding and supporting member 25. The overhead hoist may thereafter be operated to move the face plate assembly toward the tank, during which movement it will be accurately guided by virtue of the relationship between the guiding and supporting bar 21 and the guiding tube 25. When the face plate has been brought into contact with the edges of the tank surrounding the opening therein, it will be accurately located with respect thereto and at the same time its weight will be sustained. Thereafter, the clamping bolts may be inserted and tightened serially.

A somewhat improved modification of this structure is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, to which reference will now be had. In this embodiment of my invention, a carriage 4i) is mounted on a suitable track located onthe top of the calutron tank-or structure adjacent thereto for movement toward and away from the open edge of the tank 10. A fluid piston and cylinder device 41 is provided, including a cylinder 42 having one end secured to an abutment 43 located at the rear of the tank 10. A piston rod 4 iis secured to the carriage 40 and by suitable operation of the piston and cylinder device 41, the carriage 40 may be moved toward or away from the tank in a controlled manner.

The face plate 12 has heavy supporting brackets 45 which extend above the top edge of the face plate 12 and are then turned rearwardly to provide horizontally extending portions 46 which are adapted to rest upon the carriage 49. It will be appreciated that the center of gravity of the assembly comprising the face plate 12 and the ion separating mechanism including the transmitter unit 13, the receiver unit 14, 'and'the liner 15, lies substantially within the tank. The horizontal portions 46 of the brackets45 are designed so that the center of gravity of the face plate assembly lies substantially beneath the midpoint of the carriage 40.

Means are provided for hoisting the faceplate 12, including a suitable eye member 48 which, as illustrated in Fig. 5, may be substantially over the center of gravity of the face plate structure.

With the foregoing brief description in mind, the operation of this embodiment of my invention willbecome obvious. When the faceplate is in closing relation to the opening of the calutron tank, its weight rnay .be sustained by the brackets 45 resting upon the carriage 40, so that the securing bolts which clamp the face plate to the calutron tank may be removed or freed without resulting in movement of the face plate. Thereafter, pressure may be applied to the piston and cylinder device 41 in adirection to move the piston rod 44 towardthe open edge of the calutron tank. Considerable force may be required to free the face plate, inasmuch as continued operation may have resulted in freezing the face plate to the sealing gaskets provided. Thereafter, the carriage 40 may be moved further toward the open ends of the face plate in a manner to result in substantial withdrawal of the ion separating mechanism, including the transmitter unit 13, the receiver unit14, and the liner 15, from the tank. As will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 5, this ion separating mechanism is not completely withdrawn from the tank, but only the exercise of ordinary operating care is required to prevent injury to the ion separating mechanism during its further withdrawal from the tank.

It will be appreciated that instead of providing a carriage 40 permanently mounted on a trackway on the top of the calutron tank, the carriage 40 may be permanently secured to the horizontal portions 46 of the brackets 45, in which case suitable means will be provided for engaging and disengaging the outer end of the piston rod 44 from the carriage 40 so as to permit re moval of the carriage 40 with the face plate assembly, while at the same time providing for movement of the carriage 40 either toward or away from the open edge of the tank by the piston and cylinder mechanism 41.

While I have illustrated and described two specific embodiments of my improved calutron, it will be appreciated that this has been done merely to permit those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a pair of magnet pole faces, an apertured calutron tank disposed between said pole faces and adapted to be permeated with a magnetic flux therefrom, a closure for said tank aperture, ion separating mechanism carried by said closure and adapted to be moved into and out of said tank in a substantially normal direction to said magnetic flux, a carriage assembly adapted to support said closure and serving as a guide for movement thereof, and motor means attached to said carriage assembly for effecting movement of the supported closure, said motor means being disposed within the magnetic field of said magnet pole faces.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said motor means comprises an expansible chamber containing a pressure fluid.

3. In combination with a pair of magnet pole faces, an apertured calutron tank disposed between said pole faces and adapted to be permeated with a magnetic flux therefrom, a closure for said tank aperture, said closure being adapted for rectilinear movement into and out of contact with said tank surface thereby alternately to establish and to break said contact substantially simultaneously at all points of contact therewith, ion separating mechanism carried by said closure and adapted to be moved into and out of said tank in a direction which is substantially normal to said magnetic flux, a carriage assembly adapted to support said closure and serving as a guide for the rectilinear movement thereof, and motor means attached to said carriage assembly for effecting controlled movement of the supported closure as it alternately approaches and leaves the tank aperture.

4. In combination with a pair of magnet pole faces, an apertured calutron tank disposed between said pole faces and adapted to be permeated with a magnetic flux therefrom, a closure for said tank aperture, ion separat ing mechanism carried by said closure and adapted to be moved into and out of said tank in a direction which is substantially normal to said magnetic flux, a track disposed externally of said tank adjacent the top thereof, and in a direction normal to said flux, a carriage movable along said track, a bracket support mounted on the external surface of said closure and extending rearwardly parallel to said track, said support being adapted to rest upon said carriage, and actuating means connected to said carriage for effecting movement of the latter and its supported closure with a guided and controlled move ment in a direction parallel to said track.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said support is adapted to rest detachably upon said carriage with the center of gravity of the supported weight being dis posed in a vertical plane passing through said carriage.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said support is affixed to said carriage with the center of gravity of the supported weight being disposed in a vertical plane passing through said carriage and with the actuating means detachably connected to said carriage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 511,894 Kahn Jan. 2, 1894 1,315,308 Homan Sept. 9, 1919 1,809,025 Cruser June 9, 1931 2,077,160 Wilson Apr. 13, 1937 2,145,797 Merkel Jan. 31, 1939 2,225,003 German Dec. 17, 1940 2,438,454 Riebe Mar. 23, 1948 

